Accelerated Dragons

Many players are attracted to the Dragon Sicilian, but are put off by the fierce mating attacks that White can launch. In the Accelerated Dragon, Black aims for an improved version, saving a move with his queen's pawn. If White tries to ignore the difference, Black's instant detonation of the centre will come as an unwelcome cold shower! The authors show that White's main reply, the Maroczy Bind, is not so fearsome as was once thought Black has many ways to break out, while quite often it is possible to manoeuvre around White's 'binding pawns' and show that they imprison White's pieces as much as they do Black's.

International Master Jeremy Silman is co-author (with Yasser Seirawan) of Microsoft Press's series of chess books, and author of several openings books. International Master John Donaldson is an Associate Editor of the acclaimed magazine Inside Chess (Seattle). He is author of several books, including theoretical opening works and painstakingly researched player biographies. He plays regularly and successfully in North American tournaments.